Vorshlag $2010 GRM Challenge car - BMW E30 V8

[Fair]

When are you planning to showcase the new engine choice?

Very soon - right after we get it running. The chassis work is wrapping up and drivetrain is going back in tonight for the beginning of header fab. We have to get this thing on the road within 30 days to allow enough testing time before UTCC.

Go go go!

[T-Rex]

This is definitely my favorite thread on BFC right now. Can't wait for another update!

[EThirtySicks]

Love this build <3

[Fair]

Update for June 9, 2010: We've been working on the E30 a lot - here's some of the work done last Thursday and this Tuesday. Let's start with the shifter alignment, tunnel repairs and interior stuff:


Left: Inside of floor patch cleaned and painted. Right: Cover on evap core hole


Left: Interior starting to go back together! Right: Trans in place - needs a new hole

As you can see, once we put the engine and T5 back in the car with our... latest setup... the shifter moved forward. I have to make a new trans crossmember but at least the motor mounts will work as-is. The movement forward is not that big of a deal, as the tunnel needed a big patch panel/repair anyway, so we'll make a bigger patch panel and cut an all new hole with ~2" more room forward. Hope we can make something that clears the stock center console/shifter surround.



Out back, I have been dinking around with the rear subframe reinforcement/diff mount structure for a while, but its finally wrapping up. To make room for the added diff mount structure, and since we have to flare the piss out of the rear fenders, the routing for the fuel filler neck all came out. The filler cap and neck is going to be re-routed so that the fuel cap is either just inside the trunk, or flush with the rear deck itself.


L: The 1x2" tubing mocked up with the diff in place. R: Its notched on the back to fit the crossmember


Some 1x1" tubing was used to gusset the vertical tubes. Magnets make good clamps


Lots of welding and its 95% done out back now. There's some cover plates, to weld on and holes to drill

We also had the return of our team machinist and he put a hunk of Nylon on the lathe and made some shims and some shorter bushings for the trailing arms. Now they slide right in correctly, so the trailing arms can go back in place. That means - we can finally put some wheels back on this "lift clogging hulk".


Left: Paul M whittles out some improved bushings. Right: The changes worked - the trailing arms fit!

The sunroof panel "plug" is getting close to being complete... Basically, Dave cut away the "guts" from the old stock sunroof panel, leaving just the main sheet with its rolled edge. Then Sean hammered the rolled edges flat with a hammer on a wooden table, after which he prepped the opening in the roof for welding with the 3" disc air sander. We'll overlap the opening by this ~1/4" for an easier weld. Its a dead simple way to cover a sunroof hole - it stays all steel, and it retains the double curvature of the roof because it used to be in the exact same spot.



The motor and trans are in for exhaust fab, radiator bracket fab, driveshaft shortening, and other accessory mock-up. We also found a cheap, used aluminum seat, so that will go in right after the dash is buttoned up. Moving right along, but the pace is getting a bit frantic... More later this week,

[TOOLEAN]

Time to give some motor details! What are you waiting for?!

[andrezbim]

$5 on 300zx tt v6

edit: oh wait .. he def said v8.

[bmwguru]

Time to give some motor details! What are you waiting for?!

I think they said they are going to use an Infinity Q45 4.5L V8.

[andrezbim]

There's been a change.

[Fair]

I think they said they are going to use an Infinity Q45 4.5L V8.

Nope... the new V8 is mo' better.

[kablammo]

Isn't t5 enough of a hint for you guys

[andrezbim]

Not with "adapter never been done before"

[tptrsn]

I'm excited!

[bmw buddy]

Nope... the new V8 is mo' better.

what's all you're going to leave us with? that's like kicking a baby in the face!

[dpspeed]

My guess is a 5.? Ford with some type of boost!

[andrezbim]

hmmm boost cost money.. hard to justify.
it's gotta be under 500 buckaroos i'm guessing.
I think a Ford engine of some sort would be cost appropriate.
But what Ford v8 didn't get a t5?

[dpspeed]

96+ GTs and Cobras used t45s...maybe its a high mileage SOHC or DOHC 4.6L...hard to imagine one going for under 500 though...

[andrezbim]

Got an idea:
Toyota 1UZ. 4.0L 260hp / 260trq - circa mid 90's lexus.
6 bolt mains... undeniable reliability.. can get 'em for $300.. everywhere.
Already set up for rear drive.

[Fair]

96+ GTs and Cobras used t45s...maybe its a high mileage SOHC or DOHC 4.6L...hard to imagine one going for under 500 though...

Just look at this picture:


That's a DOHC Ford V8 (4.6L) next to a cam-in-block Ford V8 (5.0L). One of these fits in an E30, one of them does not.

Got an idea:
Toyota 1UZ. 4.0L 260hp / 260trq - circa mid 90's lexus.
6 bolt mains... undeniable reliability.. can get 'em for $300.. everywhere.
Already set up for rear drive.

These are great little motors, and I seriously looked at these along with the Q45 motor, but 260 hp isn't what I've been claiming. And there's no manual transmissions easily available for this one.



Good guesses.... but nowhere close.



18x11s with 305 Hoosiers out back - tomorrow its time to cut some rear fenders...

[das borgen]

Ford 302

it s been in the e36 at least

http://www.e36v8.com/

check it

[tptrsn]

Oh my god that's wicked! ! !

The suspense about the motor is beginning to kill me though. . . .

I am totally drawing a blank about what else it could be unless it's a Northstar or something.

[lughed]

18x11s with 305 Hoosiers out back

?? what offset?

[M3 Muscle]

Your killing me with lack of motor info! I'm going to have to guess at the motor...maybe it will make me feel better.

1) Northstar/Aurora V8
2) Some kind of Buick/Rover aluminum V8 (3.5l/3.9l/4.0l/4.2l/4.3l/4.4l/4.5l/4.6l) (no clue on price)
3) LS4 (with some digging I have seen them in the ~$700-$800)

If it's none of those, then I got nothing...

[burninator]

Awesome thread, the suspense is killing me!

[Ross2point0]

im guessing they went with the 5.3l out of a GM truck. cheep to buy, and have around 300hp.

[tptrsn]

That would be anti-climactic, since that's a pretty common approach. Maybe the mating of it with a T5 would be the novelty of it. . . .